On being long waisted and finding the right position for holding the guitar

Picture one: resting hand position while guitar rests on Dynarette cushion. Picture two: resting hand position while guitar rests on my right thigh.

A two-minute video from this morning.Not about playing but about posture. I've used a Dynarette cushionfor years now and decided to stop for a change. (My mother hates change; I seem to crave a certain amount.) I like the cushion but when I use it the guitar seems a wee bit high. So I decided to play without it, legs uncrossed, no strap. This video was made for my own purposes but I think it may be of slightly wider interest becausethere is something central to this experience that I don't mention onthe video: I'm long waisted.

I'm long waisted like my dad. What does this mean? It means the top half of me is longer than the bottom half. In other words, I have short legs for a man my height (5'11”).When I am seated next to my friend John, who is 6'2”, I appeartaller. The inseam of my pants is the same as that of my younger brother, who is four inches shorter than I am.

So what?

Well, it's not a big deal, really.Though it is a fact and as the saying goes, facts are stubborn things.
When I sit with the guitar on my right thigh (legs not crossed), the guitar seems far away from me. It really does. (You can't tell in the video because I'm wearing a shirt, but the guitar is sitting on my right thigh and there's a whole lot of space between the top of it and the bottom of my, er,nipples.) I instinctively want to pull the guitar (not my shirt!) up. That in turn would make my hand hang too low on the guitar. (It's very natural, when wearing a strap at a position that seems comfortable, or while having the guitar on a cushion, for my thumb to rest fully below the high E string. (Refer back to picture one above.)

Sitting the way I do in this video is comfortable but there's no way to keep my left thumb below the top ofthe guitar neck. (At least not for long.) I don't know what I'm going to do about that. (Maybe part of being long waisted is having long arms...)

For years I sat with my legs crossed and the guitar on my right thigh. Not good for the legs so I wanted to stop that. That's when I got a Dynarette cushion. Very comfy, no need for a strap, and the guitar doesn't move around. It is a fine piece of equipment. But even the small one raises the guitar a bit much. It doesn't feel bad. Hell, it feels fine. But it results in my hand resting a bit too low on the guitar. (Which means that working back to the lowest strings involves an arm motion that seems to change the angle of my pick attack. I really have to raise my hand to play on the HIGH strings.)

Any other long waisted players outthere? Perhaps you've made accommodations I haven't considered.
Always searching...

Last edited by MarkRhodes; 01-13-2019 at 04:01 PM.

"Learn the repertoire. It’s all in the songs. If you learn 200 songs, you will have no problem improvising."
Frank Vignola

Would this make you the same as a guitarist who's maybe 6 four or there abouts. You can search out tall guitarist and see how they do it and experiment with that

I'm not sure. One can be tall with long legs and a short torso---my mom is like that.

Googled "tall guitarists" and everyone over 6 feet (that I saw) played rock, some with guitars slung low on stage.

How tall was Wes? I have no idea. I think that Joe Pass was on the short side. Same for Pat Martino. Some people here have met Joe and Pat, so they can answer these questions. Someone may know about Wes...

"Learn the repertoire. It’s all in the songs. If you learn 200 songs, you will have no problem improvising."
Frank Vignola

On being long waisted and finding the right position for holding the guitar

I’m 6’4” with the arms that are proportionate for someone that is about 6’8”. I find that I’m most comfortable on a 3 hour gig when sitting in a standard size dining style chair with a Super 400 resting directly on my right leg.

I'm 6'1", and have a slightly under 31" inseam. Rather long-waisted. My Lyle is an L5 body size but with 24.75" scale and laminate. 8.5 pounds, a pound heavier than my Tele.

Playing with a strap drags heavy on my left shoulder/neck area. Very uncomfortable and painful after a while, even with a broad strap.

I used to hang the Tele about my neck and stand playing for hours. Now that isn't happening and the Tele sits so low when sitting to play and it's on my leg. I have trouble finding a comfortable position.

The Lyle ... I use the strap fastened to butt button on the guitar then run over and back under my right leg, sitting on it. The guitar lower bout sits on top of my thigh, I play a bit vertically though less than some classical players.

My right arm comfortably flops over the lower bout in playing position and I can sit and play a couple hours with no stress anywhere. No work holding guitar in position.

I can't see how so many have the guitar body curve resting on their leg. The strings are so low for me I might as well stand and hang a Les Paul for 60' rock ...

I wonder how tall was Tal Farlow. He was said to have really large hands...

I had wondered that too. I knew about the big hands. Great video.

What I tried this morning was to use a strap and place the guitar off to the side of my thigh, tilted, so that the fingerboard is angled up while the picking area is a tad lower (or so it seems---I didn't take a picture for objective comparison) than when it was planted squarely atop my right thigh. I may do that later today.

Could work. It actually feels a bit like it felt when I was playing my old Strat (seated).

It reminds me a bit of how BB King used to wear his guitar a bit sideways. (Like him, I have more belly than necessary.) It feels fine but it may create back issues.

I'm not sure how it was for him, but when I do (something resembling this) the neck is forward. The guitar is angled across my leg/side at 45 or so degrees.)

"Learn the repertoire. It’s all in the songs. If you learn 200 songs, you will have no problem improvising."
Frank Vignola

What I tried this morning was to use a strap and place the guitar off to the side of my thigh, tilted, so that the fingerboard is angled up while the picking area is a tad lower (or so it seems---I didn't take a picture for objective comparison) than when it was planted squarely atop my right thigh. I may do that later today.

That’s what I do, I find it the most comfortable way (I’m fairly average height and proportions I guess), here’s a screen grab from one of my videos:

Mark, have you tried different sized guitars? Smaller bodies make the whole instrument sit lower, and larger ones make it sit higher. For me, a 16" is about the most comfortable. 14.5" or 15" sit a little too low, and an 18" is so high I have to play it at an angle, facing up. I use a strap most of the time, but with a 16" body I can play without it, and just put it on my right thigh comfortably.

Mark, have you tried different sized guitars? Smaller bodies make the whole instrument sit lower, and larger ones make it sit higher. For me, a 16" is about the most comfortable. 14.5" or 15" sit a little too low, and an 18" is so high I have to play it at an angle, facing up. I use a strap most of the time, but with a 16" body I can play without it, and just put it on my right thigh comfortably.

At times, yes, though not lately. I'm a one-guitar guy. What I got is what I got and that won't change any time soon. So I have to adjust to the guitar I have rather than find another one. (That may be a future project, though. ;o)

"Learn the repertoire. It’s all in the songs. If you learn 200 songs, you will have no problem improvising."
Frank Vignola

Further experiments with the best way for me, a long waisted guy, to position my guitar for playing while seated.

I think you have to be careful not to have the guitar laying too ‘flat’ though, it can make playing barred chords harder. Maybe try shortening the strap by a couple of inches so you pull the neck up a bit and hold the guitar less flat? I had to do that. The other thing is that I use a wide strap which grips well, so the guitar won’t slide back down so easily.

But this is very much trial and error, no doubt it’s different for everybody.

I think you have to be careful not to have the guitar laying too ‘flat’ though, it can make playing barred chords harder. Maybe try shortening the strap by a couple of inches so you pull the neck up a bit and hold the guitar less flat? I had to do that. The other thing is that I use a wide strap which grips well, so the guitar won’t slide back down so easily.

But this is very much trial and error, no doubt it’s different for everybody.

I'll give it a shot. One thing I've noticed already is that when I hold the guitar like this, the strap bites my neck.

"Learn the repertoire. It’s all in the songs. If you learn 200 songs, you will have no problem improvising."
Frank Vignola

That type of strap always does. I prefer one backed by smooth leather, with some padding. But I have one that is plain leather, with a rough back, and it has its uses. It holds its place if the neck is heavy, and it's comfortable enough. Italia keeps having sales on its smooth leather backed straps, but I already have enough.

I hold the guitar in this exact position. Even the amount contact of the base of the guitar with Joe Pass's upper thigh is identical to how I hold my ES 175 (the very bottom of the picture). That little contact is important as it takes some of the weight off the shoulders.
It's not an instant hit. It takes some time to get used to it. But once you get used to it, it's very comfortable. Neck comes up high like the classical position allowing for healthy left hand positioning. I think it's better than even the classical position as it prevents the awkward upper body twist. I hold even my strats this way now.
Needless to say, a well chosen strap is the key.

This picture is a good example of how there can be different solutions to issues like posture and technique. If I were to try to play with the fingerboard pointing up like this my repetitive movement issues in my left hand would flare up to a point were I wouldn't be able to play anymore.

Just do what works for you.

Originally Posted by MarkRhodes

A refinement.
This feels better, though the jack is going to present issues when I plug this in....
Some of the weight here rests atop the left thigh. Keeps the guitar from moving around.

Can't you wear the guitar higher? It's not very nice to your left hand laying the guitar flat like that. I also have a tall upper body...always the tallest guy when sitting at the table But I wear the guitar higher. It doesn't reach down to my thighs when sitting straight, wearing a strap.

Can't you wear the guitar higher? It's not very nice to your left hand laying the guitar flat like that. I also have a tall upper body...always the tallest guy when sitting at the table But I wear the guitar higher. It doesn't reach down to my thighs when sitting straight, wearing a strap.

If I wear the guitar higher, my right hand is too far down. My right hand has suffered for decades---it's my left hand's turn! ;o) (Kidding. Don't want to hurt my left hand or arm.)

"Learn the repertoire. It’s all in the songs. If you learn 200 songs, you will have no problem improvising."
Frank Vignola

I always use a right-angle plug, whether the jack is positioned there or through the end block. Fortunately, the Relay G10 comes with a right-angle adapter, plus I have two I bought before I realized I got a free one with the wireless. I can use those in a pinch if I'm forced to use a cable with only a straight plug, but that's rare. I tend to use that position, or one with the neck even a little higher, but I'm not religious about it, and sometimes revert to having the neck horizontal on my right thigh. Having the guitar angled back, with the top facing up, doesn't bother me, and I've been doing that for a long time, depending on the guitar. With an 18" bout, it's the only way I can play it. Different positions for different folks.

I am about 6 feet and I think common proportion for the height... as I play several very different instruments I had to develope different postures....

The most convinient for is Aria Sinsonido (that I totally upgreaded with a new pu, brigde and tuners and made it gigable guitar)... with this guitar I can sit in more than classical position without any strap, stool or whatever... you can see somwhat similar how John Stowell sits with his Soloetto.
The guitar is extremely light, the frame holds very well... and you just do not have to hold it with your hands even thought it is almost vertical.
Strandberg guitars are also very convinient and ergonomic, but expensive.

As for archtops or acoustics... I play them either on strap or on my right leg in horizontal position.. the guitar should be approxamately 'concert size' for that (ES175 size fits perfectly), L-5 size can be ok if it is not too thick.
Actually I think your Ibanez is ES175 size, I found them very convinient to play
I have also full size Jumbo that is the same size as L5 but much thicker and it makes pain to play it, too big to embrace.

Parlous guitars are too small and I have to use a strap or a stool...

Lutes are different sotry.. very unconventional shape and so many things depend on good posture that preparations for playing take some time))